Nemesia plant named ‘DNESUNSHIN’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Nemesia  cultivar named ‘DNESUNSHIN’ is disclosed, characterized by abundant, long lasting yellow flowers. Flowers are self-cleaning and do not fade in color. Plants have a compact growth habit and tolerate high temperatures. The new variety is a  Nemesia , normally produced as an outdoor garden or container plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Nemesia hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘DNESUNSHIN’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Nemesia cultivar is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the inventor, Gavriel Danziger, in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva,Israel. The objective of the breeding program was to produce new Nemesiavarieties for ornamental commercial applications. The cross resulting inthis new variety was made during December of 2011.

The seed parent is the, unpatented, proprietary variety referred to asNemesia ‘NE-11-1199’. The pollen parent is the unpatented, proprietyvariety referred to as Nemesia ‘NE-11-1991’. The new variety wasdiscovered in July of 2012 by the inventor in a group of seedlingsresulting from the 2011 crossing, in a research greenhouse in MoshavMishmar Hashiva, Israel.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was performed by vegetativecuttings. This was first performed at a research greenhouse in MoshavMishmar Hashiva, Israel in Summer of 2012 and has shown that the uniquefeatures of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type inmultiple successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘DNESUNSHIN’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘DNESUNSHIN’ These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘DNESUNSHIN’ as a new and distinct Nemesiacultivar:

-   -   1. Compact growth habit.    -   2. Long flowering period.    -   3. Abundance of yellow flowers.    -   4. Flower color does not fade.    -   5. Tolerant to high temperatures above 28° C.    -   6. Self-cleaning flowers.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DNESUNSHIN’ are similar to plants of theseed parent, Nemesia ‘NE-11-1999’ in most horticultural characteristics,however, plants of the new cultivar ‘DNESUNSHIN’ differ in thefollowing;

-   -   1. Plants of ‘DNESUNSHIN’ have yellow flowers, whereas the        female parent has light orange and pink-colored flowers    -   2. The new variety produces smaller flowers.    -   3. The female parent's foliage reddens in cold temperatures        whereas ‘DNESUNSHIN’ has foliage that remains unchanged (green).    -   4. The new variety produces more flowers per plant than the seed        parent.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DNESUNSHIN’ are similar to plants of thepollen parent, Nemesia ‘NE-11-1991’ in most horticulturalcharacteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘DNESUNSHIN’ differin the following;

-   -   1. Plants of ‘DNESUNSHIN’ have yellow flowers whereas, male        parent variety flowers in shades of light pink.    -   2. Plants of ‘DNESUNSHIN’ is well branched in the summer months        whereas male parent produces less branches.    -   3. The new variety produces larger flowers.    -   4. The new variety has a longer flowering period.    -   5. The new variety is more vigorous.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DNESUNSHIN’ are comparable to the unpatentedcommercial variety Nemesia ‘Sunsatia Plus Pera’. The two Nemesiavarieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics; however,the new variety ‘DNESUNSHIN’ differs in the following:

-   -   1. Earlier flowering.    -   2. Semi-trailing growth habit. The comparator growth habit is        upright.    -   3. Yellow flowers. The comparator flowers are creamy yellow with        lemon yellow eyes.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DNESUNSHIN’ can also be comparable to thecommercial variety Nemesia ‘Sunsatia Plus Pomelo’, patent statusunknown. The two Nemesia varieties are similar in most horticulturalcharacteristics; however, the new variety ‘DNESUNSHIN’ differs in thefollowing:

-   -   1. Yellow flowers. The comparator's flowers are honey-yellow in        color.    -   2. Earlier flowering.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical plant of ‘DNESUNSHIN’ grown in a nursery, in a 13 cm pot. Age ofthe plant photographed is approximately 12 weeks from a rooted cutting.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close up of the flowers.

The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and althoughcolors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectanceit is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Mini Colour Chart 2001 except where general termsof ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘DNESUNSHIN’ plants grown in the Spring, in agreenhouse, in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The growing temperatureranged from 17° C. to 34° C. during the day and from 10° C. to 14° C.during the night. General light conditions are bright, normal sunlight.Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical planttypes.

-   Botanical classification: Nemesia ‘DNESUNSHIN’.

PROPAGATION

-   Type of propagation typically used: Vegetative terminal cuttings.-   Time to initiate roots: 8-13 days.-   Root description: Fibrous.

PLANT

-   Age of plant described: Approximately 80 days from a rooted cutting.-   Pot size of plant described: 12 cm.-   Growth habit: Semi trailing.-   Height: To top of flowers: Approximately 25 cm.-   Plant spread: 45 cm.-   Growth rate: Fast.-   Characteristics of primary lateral branches:    -   -   Quantity of primary lateral branches.—5.        -   Length of primary lateral branches.—20 cm.        -   Form.—Quadrangular.        -   Diameter.—0.4 cm.        -   Color.—RHS Yellow-green 144 A.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Strength.—Flexible.-   Internode length: 1-2 cm.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Quantity.—Approximately 8 per branch.        -   Average length.—3.5 cm.        -   Average width.—1 cm.        -   Shape of blade.—Lanceolate.        -   Apex.—Lanceolate.        -   Base.—Obtuse.        -   Margin.—Serrate.        -   Texture of top surface.—Smooth. Texture of bottom surface:            Smooth.        -   Pubescence.—None.        -   Aspect.—90 degrees to ground.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: RHS Green N 137 A. Young            foliage under side: RHS Yellow-green 146 B. Mature foliage            upper side: RHS Yellow-green 146 A. Mature foliage under            side: RHS Yellow-green 146 D.        -   Venation.—Type: Pinnate. Venation color upper side: RHS            Yellow-green 146 C. Venation color under side: RHS            Yellow-green N144 C.        -   Petiole.—Absent.

FLOWER

-   Natural flowering season: Autumn/Winter/Spring.-   Days to flowering from rooted cutting: 21 days.-   Inflorescence and flower type and habit: Raceme.-   Rate of flower opening: 4 to 6 days from bud to fully opened flower.-   Flower longevity on plant: 7 days.-   Approximate quantity of flowers per plant: Per inflorescence, 6 to    12 flowers.-   Persistent or self-cleaning: Self-cleaning.-   Bud:    -   -   Shape.—Obovate.        -   Length.—0.3 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.3 cm.        -   Color.—RHS Yellow-green 144 D.-   Corolla:    -   -   Upper petals (upper lip).—Number: 4. Length: Central petals:            15 mm. Lateral petals: 11 mm. Width: Central petals: 7 mm.            Lateral petals: 9 mm. Shape: Obtuse. Aspect: 45 degrees to            stem. Margin: Entire. Texture: Smooth. Color: When opening:            Upper surface: RHS Green-yellow 1 D. Lower surface: RHS            White 155 B. Fully opened: Upper surface: RHS Green-yellow            1 B. Lower surface: RHS White NN155 A.        -   Lower petal (lower lip).—Length: 12 cm. Width: 16 cm. Shape:            Cordate. Apex shape: Lobate/obtuse. Color: Upper surface:            RHS Yellow 3 A. Lower surface: RHS Green-yellow 1 D.        -   Palate.—Length: 5 mm. Width: 8 mm. Color: RHS White NN            155 C. Texture: Smooth.        -   Throat.—Length: 9 mm. Color: Near Green-yellow 1 D, blotched            Greyed-Purple 187A. Width: 6 mm. Texture: Pubescence.            Pubescence: Puberulent.        -   Spur.—Quantity: 1. Length: 1 mm. Diameter: 1 mm. Texture:            Pubescence. Color: RHS Greyed-yellow 161 A.-   Calyx:    -   -   Form.—Star-shaped with 5 sepals fused at the base.        -   Length.—3 mm.        -   Diameter.—7 mm.        -   Sepal.—Width: 15 mm. Shape: Cuspidate. Apex: Cuspidate.            Margin: Entire. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Upper surface:            RHS Green 137 A. Lower surface: RHS Green 137 C.-   Pedicel:    -   -   Strength.—Flexible.        -   Aspect.—45 degree.        -   Length.—20 mm.        -   Diameter.—1 mm.        -   Texture.—Pubescent.        -   Color.—RHS Green 137 C.        -   Fragrance.—Yes, typical Fragrant of Nemesia.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens:    -   -   Number (per flower).—4.        -   Filament length.—0.2 cm.        -   Anthers.—Shape: Oval. Length: 1 mm. Color: RHS Yellow 8 B.-   Pollen:    -   -   Color.—RHS Yellow 7 B.        -   Amount.—Abundant.-   Pistils:    -   -   Quantity per flower.—1.        -   Length.—2 mm.        -   Styles.—Length: 1 mm. Color: RHS Yellow-green 142 D. Stigma:            Shape: Oval. Color: RHS yellow-green 142 D.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Seeds and fruits: 5-10 seeds per fruit.-   Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to    normal diseases and pests of Nemesia observed.-   Temperature tolerance: Tolerant to high temperatures about 28° C.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Nemesia plantnamed ‘DNESUNSHIN’ as herein illustrated and described.